Day: September 8, 2016

The barrier draws for Sunday’s Keeneland Korea Cup and Sprint took place at a downtown Seoul hotel this morning. Each race features seven overseas-trained horses up against nine Korean-trained. We’ll have a full final preview of both races up on Saturday. For now, here are the fields (all pictures by Ross Holburt for KRA):

The Sprint will be simulcast live by the Hong Kong Jockey Club during Sunday afternoon’s Sha Tin meeting and Super Jockey, one of the favourites for the race, drew gate number 2.

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The barrier draws for Sunday’s inaugural Keeneland Korea Cup & Sprint were held this morning in Seoul. Before we get to that though, we have plenty of regular action to take care of. The weekend’s racing starts in Busan on Friday where there are 11 races from 14:20 to 21:00. English racecards are here and notes on races 1-9 are below:

Race 1: Class 6 / 1000M / Allowance / KRW 55 Million / 14:20

Italian jockey Francisco Da Silva makes his Korean debut here and it could be a winning one on (3) BAEKDUBONG. The colt was a solid 2ndon debut in July and can go one better here. Main danger is (7) DAREUMBAKJIL, also 2nd on debut last month behind a decent winner. Debut-makers (6) TRIPLE KING looks next best while (5) EORIN YEOWANG can improve from his debut last month.

Selections

(7) Dareumbakjil (3) Baekdubong (6) Triple King (5) Eorin Yeowang

Next Best

1, 2, 4

Fast Starters

1, 6

Race 2: Class 6 / 1000M / Allowance / KRW 55 Million / 14:45

Only three of the eight have raced before and of those, (7) CHOEGANG DRIVER was an improved 6th on her second start behind some promising ones and can progress again here. Da Silva gets another opportunity on (4) SUMMIT DAY, 2nd in a trial last month and who along with (2) GOLDEN BULLET, looks the most promising of the debut-makers. The two others with racing experience, (3) EGSEU BAND and (8) QUEEN’S BULLET are next best.

Selections

(4) Summit Day (7) Choegang Driver (2) Golden Bullet (3) Egseu Band

Next Best

8, 1

Outsiders

5, 6

Fast Starters

3, 4, 7

Race 3: Class 6 / 1200M / Allowance / KRW 20 Million / 15:10

With two 3rds from three outings to date, filly (1) AREUMDAUN OECHIM is strongly favoured to strike this time as the standout in a big but limited field. Bearing in mind the quality – or lack thereof – of the opposition, Peter Wolsley’s (6) COURAGIO, the only debut-maker, has to be well supported while (5) PYEONGDAEMYEONGMUN, with two 4ths from three starts, can also go well. Plenty of experience, if not necessarily talent, among the rest so (4) CHASEDAE and (10) AQUA QUEEN should be capable of competing for the money.

Selections

(1) Areumdaun Oechim (6) Couragio (5) Pyeongdaemyeongmun (4) Chasedae

Next Best

10, 2, 9, 8, 12, 3

Outsiders

7, 11, 13, 14

Fast Starters

5, 13

Race 4: Class 6 / 1300M / Allowance / KRW 40 Million / 15:55

Another Peter Wolsley debut-maker. (4) YUSEONG FIRST, looks the one to beat here in this all-filly affair. She looked promising in trials and can get off to a winning start in less than intimidating company. (6) LADY LUCK should be scoring the best result of her career to date, coming in following a 3rd and a 4th in her last two starts. (1) BEST ECTON and (7) SWEET WHY, both under apprentice jockeys can also improve on what they’ve done before.

Selections

(4) Yuseong First (6) Lady Luck (1) Best Ecton (7) Sweet Why

Next Best

3, 8

Outsiders

2, 5

Fast Starters

2, 4, 7

Race 5: Class 4 / 1000M / Handicap / KRW 55 Million / 16:40

We’re finally done with the maidens and onto a competitive looking race. As we often do in these type of class 4 races, we’ll go for the experienced Korean breds over the imports. (1) YEONGTO DAEWANG is up in class following her second win just two weeks ago. She looks a good sprinter and can make all here. Also a good looking sprinter is (9) V DIVA. She returned from four months off to triumph over this distance on August 7th and is too up in class here with solid claims. (8) HUIMANG QUEEN has finished no worse than 4th in eight runs to fate and should keep that record intact today. Among the imports, (5) BARAMUI HEUNJEOK can improve on the 6th he scored on debut while first-timer (11) PASSION D’OR looked promising in trials.

Selections

(1) Yeongto Daewang (9) V Diva (8) Huimang Queen (11) Passion D’Or

Next Best

5, 4, 10, 3

Outsiders

2, 6, 7, 12

Fast Starters

1, 3, 4

Race 6: Class 5 / 1200M / Handicap / KRW 40 Million / 17:25

Competitive race here and Bart Rice’s (7) FOCUS LINE just gets the verdict. Yet to win in four but looked ok first up at this level a month ago and can improve from just off the pace. (12) CHOEGANG ADVENTURE has a 2nd and a 3rd at this level and if he can get to the front from gate 12, could have strong claims while (2) JERAJIN, who didn’t find it easy in an all-filly race at this class three weeks ago can also improve today. (5) BAEDARI HAENGUN and (6) WONDERFULCHEONGHAE look best of the rest.

(14) BRACHAH beat four of these when finishing 3rd over class and distance just two weeks ago and despite drawing the outside gate here is favoured to beat them once more and this time come home in front. It won’t be easy though. (3) CHEONGCHUN CHAMP is up in class following a pair of 2nd places at class 6 and looks to have scope for development while (2) MAKGANG JILJU has come close in each of her last four and can do so again. (4) GAMSEONG POKBAL is up in class following her maiden win at this distance. She has plenty to find but can be competitive while (8) OH MY CAPTAIN and (11) FIRST SUN are others to consider.

Selections

(14) Brachah (3) Cheongchun Champ (2) Makgang Jilju (11) First Sun

Next Best

8, 4, 7, 6, 9

Outsiders

1, 5, 10, 12, 13

Fast Starters

8, 11, 14

Race 8: Class 5 / 1600M / Handicap / KRW 40 Million / 18:45

Another really competitive race with (6) USEUNG CHOEGO marginally favoured to improve on 3rd place at class and distance on August 12th. Main danger is (9) GERMAN JEONCHA, 2nd on his first try at the distance three weeks ago and likely to set the pace here. He looks a potential talent at this and further distances. (7) THE STARS has only won once but is always dangerous; she beat (8) GO JJANG by a length last time out as the pair ran 3rd and 4th over a mile and both should be competitive again here. Up in class and distance, (2) HUIMANG PARADE may also be considered.

Selections

(6) Useung Choego (9) German Jeoncha (2) Huimang Parade (7) The Stars

Next Best

8, 10, 3, 11

Outsiders

1, 4, 5

Fast Starters

9

Race 9: Class 4 / 1200M / Handicap / KRW 55 Million / 19:35

Bart Rice’s (6) JANGGUNEUI HUYE comes in having won three from three since being a little overmatched in the Korean Oaks in June. She’s a talented sprinter and should have too much for this opposition. (8) V MAN, a Korean Derby also-ran, and (10) GIGA SPEED can go close but will have to find a little extra to compete with the favourite while (4) SINSEGYE SINHWA and (7) GANGJA DAERO also look in the running for the places.